The Rotary Club of Galveston welcomed three Rotary Exchange Students at a recent meeting. Hailey from Galveston, who - two years ago - spent a year in France, Luke from Galveston, who just returned from a year in Thailand, and Fahsai, who just arrived from Thailand and will spend a year in Galveston. Also pictured is Rotary Past District Governor and District Youth Exchange Inbound Coordinator Ulli Budelmann, who will serve as Fahsai's Rotary Counselor and Guardian.
The GISD Ball High School Allied Health and Sciences Pathways Project was the recent recipient of a grant from the Galveston Rotary Foundation on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Shown receiving their grant funds from the Rotary Club of Galveston are (l to r) Pathways Project member Marc Weis, BHS associate principal Stephanie Wilcox; Rotary Club of Galveston immediate past-president Kathy VanDewalli, and Bruce Leipzig, Pathways Project. The Pathways Project is an initiative to offer Ball High School students a new advanced curriculum and state-of-the-art Biomedical Sciences laboratories, aligned with the Allied Health and Sciences Pathway. Monies raised is for advanced lab equipment, technology and curriculum enhances. As an example, this funding would help purchase synthetic live cadavers for use in classroom laboratories, biomedical microscopes and other state-of-the-art equipment.
The Galveston Housing Plus – GROW program was the recent recipient of a grant from the Galveston Rotary Foundation on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Shown receiving their grant funds from the Rotary Club of Galveston are Galveston Housing Plus program members Stephen Middleton and Beccah Suleman-Sule, Galveston Rotary Foundation 2025-26 secretary/treasurer Kristen Carlson, Rotary Club of Galveston president Lauren Millo with her daughter, Maggie Millo, and executive director of Galveston Housing Plus, Dr. Michelle Watts. The Galveston Housing Plus GROW program guides participants through an intensive multi-week workforce development curriculum, connects them with local employers, and — for every participant who completes the program and secures a job — provides a work-clothing stipend to ensure they can show up to their first day of work prepared and confident.
The Rotary Club of Galveston presented The Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County with grant monies to fund the purchase of their new “Happy Bear/Safe Touch” mascot costume. Pictured receiving fund from the Rotary Club of Galveston President Lauren Millo, are the Happy Bear mascot, RCCGC representative Brandi Smith, and Galveston Rotary Foundation 2025-26 secretary/treasurer Kristen Carlson. The Happy Bear/Safe Touch program is a best practice model to educate children through a bear mascot and age-appropriate games, handouts and coloring sheets regarding signs and signals of abuse, such as perpetrator grooming, peer pressure, bullying, red flags and internet/digital interactions.
Did you know? Surveys indicate that 96% of Texas teachers spend anywhere from $550 to $895 of their own money on classroom supplies during a school year! Our speakers Brittaney Wilmore of KTRK ABC13, and Mike Dudas of GISD spoke on the "ABC13 Loves Teachers" event taking place on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon at the Galveston ISD Support Center.
A donation drop box will be at our meetings through Wednesday, July 29th; and monetary donations may be made HERE.
Galveston Rotary Foundation Secretary-Treasurer, Kristen Carlson, announced the recipients of the following grants recently awarded by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees: The Galveston Arts Center; Galveston County Club House; Galveston County Food Bank; Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council (GINTC); The Grand 1894 Opera House; UTMB – Grace Mobility Clinic; and, Arts Downtown GTX.
This week we congratulated the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. Their grant will be used for their 2026 Winter Nature Program designed for WinterTexans, but also open to year-round residents. The program includes several events and activities, including guided nature tours, expert lectures, and immersive outdoor experiences, showcasing Galveston’s natural assets while educating the public about conservation. This grant fits in the Environment Area of Focus for Rotary.
From left, Katelin Stroman, Program Manager, Galveston Rotary Foundation Secretary-Treasurer Kristen Carlson, and Executive Director, Eowyn Johnson
Congratulations to our newest members! Clarissa Woodward – introduced to the Club on Wednesday, Oct. 15th and Henry Dalehite introduced on Oct. 22nd, along with a welcome to our returning members Eric Van Kuijk and Virginia Brooke, back in Galveston after many years in Minneapolis!
Sponsor Mari Berend with new member Clarissa Woodward and President Kathy VanDewalli.
Sponsor Mary Brechtel with new member Henry Dalehite and President Kathy VanDewalli.
Returning members Virginia Brooke and Eric Van Kuijk with President Kathy VanDewalli.
Congratulations to Bud Kulesza! Bud was introduced this week as our Club’s newest member of The Paul Harris Society. The Paul Harris Society is comprised of individuals who pledge to annually contribute $1,000 or more to the Permanent Fund, Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Rotary Foundation grant. Past President, and Chair of District 5910 Paul Harris Society Barbara Winburn introduced Bud Kulesza as the newest member of The Paul Harris Society.
Welcome to our newest club members! Pictured (l to r) are new members Margie Kusnerik, John VanDewalli, and Rhona Slingerland with 5910 District Governor Charley Gilliland, and new members Mary White, and Mike Dudas and club President Kathy VanDewalli. These 5 new members were introduced at our September 10, 2025 meeting. Welcome!
Rotary Club of Galveston past-president Barbara Winburn accepted the Club Excellence Award for the 2024-25 Rotary Year for our club! Barbara led the club in achieving 21 out of the 22 goals set by Rotary International! We are Excellence in action! Shown pictured (l to r) are Barbara Winburn and current club President Kathy VanDewalli.
Hailey Brechtel, past-president of the Galveston Interact Club, accepts the 2024-25 Club Excellence Award from Rotary Club of Galveston president Kathy VanDewalli. The Club Excellence Award recognizes clubs that support Rotary's Action Plan by completing activities that help increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement, and increase our ability to adapt.
CONGRATULATIONS!
This week we celebrated Gary Peters 30-year anniversary as a Rotarian! We presented Gary with a certificate and a special Rotary Coin as a memento. Congratulations Gary!
Please consider joining the Rovin' Rotarians' Team that will be walking in the Walk to End Alzheimer's event on Saturday, October 18th. If you can't join us for the walk, please consider donating to support our team as we continue to raise critical funds that allow the Alzheimer’s Association to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure.
Rotary Club of Galveston members Pat Bumpus, Mark Stasney, Don Davison, club president Kathy VanDewalli, John VanDewalli and Gina Spagnola dropped off supplies and monetary donations to the ABC Channel 13 and GISD Share Your School Supplies event on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Scholarship Committee representatives June Pulliam and Don Davison introduced out 2025 Scholarship Recipients Kalei Crawford, Isabella Gomez, and Hogan Lanier and Ruby Gundrum (Ruby not present at the meeting). Those present read their application essays on “The Rotary 4-Way Test.” All thoughtfully prepared and very inspiring to members to remember just how impactful the 4-Way Test is on our lives, and the lives of our young people. Special shout-out to the parents of these students for supporting their education efforts.
Pictured: Club President Kathy VanDewalli, scholarship recipient Kalei Crawford and Kalei’s mom, Ebony Crawford
Pictured: Club President Kathy VanDewalli, scholarship recipient Isabella Gomez, her mother Roseanna Gomez, and Odyssey Academy Superintedent Jennifer Goodwin
Pictured: Club President Kathy VanDewalli, scholarship recipient Hogan Lanier and his mother Jenny Lanier
Gary Peters was announced as a PHF+8, and Denise DeVries as a PHF+1 at the club's July 16th meeting. Denise was surprised by the gift of her PHF+1 from her husband Richard DeVries. Thanks to both Gary and Denise (and Richard) for their support of Rotary! Pictured her (left to right), Gary Peters, club president Kathy VanDewalli and Denise DeVries.
Ruth Suhler introduced our newest club member, Lori Blackwell; and presented Lori with her red badge and new member packet. Lori is a Growth Specialist at UTMB, a longtime Galvestonian who volunteers with Meals on Wheels and served as the co-chair of UTMB’s Veteran’s Resources.
Lori is eager to dive into Service Above Self as a Rotarian! Welcome, Lori!
The Galveston Interact Club members had a great time riding in the City of Galveston's 4th of July parade!
Joseph Hugger (left) was recently awarded an honorary Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his service to the Rotary Club of Galveston. Pictured with Hugger is Club President Barbara Winburn.
The Rotary Club of Galveston held its annual change of leadership meeting on June 18 at Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant in downtown Galveston with the installation of the new president, executive team and board of directors. Pictured (front row, left to right): Kathy VanDewalli, president; Barbara Winburn, past-president; Susan Syler and (seated) Stephan Duncan, seargent-at-arms. (Back row, left to right): Jennifer Kelso, Treasurer; Lauren Suderman Millo, president-elect; Chris Homer, president-nominee; Mari Berend, Ruth Suhler, Secretary; Joseph Hugger, Randall Robinson, Lodie Massey, Jay Sims, Don Davison and Barbara Sanderson. Directors not pictured: Susannah Brown and Judy Johnson.
New members installed at the Rotary Club of Galveston’s July 9 meeting. Pictured (left to right): Kathy VanDewalli, president, Rotary Club of Galveston; Leonard Woolsey, publisher of The Galveston County Daily News and president of Southern Newspapers Inc.; newly installed Rotarians Jeana Watts, Michelle Robinson, general manager and chief revenue officer of The Galveston County Daily News; Teagen Tappe Bradley, Lisa Quiroga-Burus and member sponsors Randy Klibert and Mari Berend.
Leonard Wang, 3rd year MD/PhD student at UTMB, was introduced as the recipient of Rotary International's Global Grant Scholarship which he will use to obtain his MBA at Cambridge University in the UK. Wang is currently completing a Master of Science degree in Health & Social Policy at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, UK, which was funded by a Fulbright scholarship. Pictured from left to right includes Barbara Winburn, Club President, Wang, and Ulli Budelmann, PDG.
